Breast cancer is widely and effectively treated with endocrine treatment. However, in many cases the tumours will eventually progress into an estrogen-independent and therapy-resistant phenotype.

Seven genes including AKT1, AKT2, BCAR1, BCAR2, BCAR3, EGFR2 and GRB7 have been shown to directly underlie estrogen independence in human breast cancer cells. This cell line is part of a panel of 16 cell lines (Cat No 154621-154635, 154642) which have been transfected with these genes, plus the parental (Cat No 154547).

This cell line is a powerful tool for studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms of breast tumour progression, therapy resistance and to test the effectiveness of novel drugs to combat different modes of anti-estrogen insensitivity

Production Details

Retroviral particles containing BCAR4 cDNA were produced by transient transfection of Phoenix-Ampho packaging cells using FuGENE6. ZR-75-1 cells were incubated with viral particles in the presence of 4ug/ml polybrene and 1nmol/L estradiol. Three days after transfection cells were cultured in medium supplemented with G418 and resistant colonies were expanded.

The cell line is resistant to Geneticin, which may be included in the culture medium to ensure that the expression vector is retained by the cells.
As a consequence of the presence of a BCAR genes, these cells can also proliferate in the absence of estrogen or even in the presence of anti-estrogens.